Dual mode credit card based payment technique

Abstract

A technique for directing a credit card based payment to a payee for a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer is provided. A request for a payment service provider to make a payment to the payee on behalf of the payor is received. Payment information associated with the payment request is sent to the credit card issuer. The information is not sent via a credit card network. The credit card issuer then sends funds to the payment service provider in response to the sent payment information. These funds are not sent via a credit card network. The payment service provider delivers funds to the payee, not the credit card issuer.

1. A method for a payment service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, comprising:
 receiving, by the service provider, of a request for the service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of the payor; 
 transmitting payment information associated with the received payment request from the service provider to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, the payment information including information identifying at least a payment amount and an account number associated with the payor credit card; 
 receiving, by the service provider and via other than a credit card network, of funds from the credit card issuer responsive to the transmitted payment information; 
 directing, by the service provider, of delivery of funds in the identified payment amount and associated remittance advice to the payee to complete the payment on behalf of the payor; and 
 issuing, by the credit card issuer for the payor, a credit card statement identifying the funds received by the service provider from the credit card issuer as a payment to the payee and not the service provider. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitted payment information further includes information identifying the payee. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the funds are delivered to the payee by one of a paper instrument and an electronic funds transfer; and 
 if the funds are delivered by electronic funds transfer, the funds are delivered via an electronic funds transfer network to a deposit account associated with the payee maintained at a financial institution. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payment information is transmitted to the credit card issuer via the Internet. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claims 1 , wherein the funds are received from the credit card issuer via the ACH network. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the funds are directed to be delivered to the payee at one of a time prior to, concurrent with, or subsequent to receipt of the funds from the credit card issuer. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the payor is associated with a consumer service provider; and 
 the payee is one of the consumer service provider and another entity. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payee does not accept credit cards as a form of payment. 
   
   
     9. A method for a payment service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, comprising:
 receiving, by the service provider, of a request for the service provider to direct a payment to a first payee on behalf of the payor; 
 transmitting payment information associated with the received payment request from the service provider to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, the payment information including information identifying at least a payment amount and an account number associated with the payor credit card; 
 receiving, by the service provider and via other than a credit card network, of funds from the credit card issuer responsive to the transmitted payment information; 
 directing, by the service provider, of delivery of funds in the identified payment amount and associated remittance advice to the first payee to complete the payment to the first payee on behalf of the payor; and 
 receiving, by the service provider, of another request for the payment service provider to direct a payment to a second payee on behalf of the payor; 
 determining, by the service provider, that the second payee accepts the payor credit card as a form of payment; and 
 transmitting payment information associated with the received other payment request from the service provider via a credit card network to complete the payment on behalf of the payor, and not to the credit card issuer via other than the credit card network. 
 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 directing, by the service provider, of delivery of remittance advice associated with the payment to the second payee. 
 
   
   
     11. A method for a payment service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, comprising:
 receiving, by the service provider, of a first request for the service provider to direct a payment to a first payee on behalf of the payor; 
 determining, by the service provider, that the received first payment request includes information identifying the payor credit card; 
 transmitting, subsequent to and based on it being determined that the received payment request includes information identifying the payor credit card, payment information associated with the received first payment request from the service provider to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, the payment information including information identifying at least a payment amount and an account number associated with the payor credit card; 
 receiving, by the service provider and via other than a credit card network, of funds from the credit card issuer responsive to the transmitted payment information; 
 directing, by the service provider, of delivery of funds in the identified payment amount and associated remittance advice to the first payee to complete the payment to the first payee on behalf of the payor; 
 receiving, by the service provider, of a second request for the payment service provider to direct a payment to a second payee on behalf of the payor; 
 determining, by the service provider, that the received second payment request includes information identifying a payor deposit account; and 
 directing, by the service provider based on the determination that the received second payment request includes information identifying the payor deposit account, a debiting of another amount of funds from the identified payor deposit account, and delivery of funds in the other payment amount and associated remittance advice to the second payee to complete payment on behalf of the payor. 
 
   
   
     12. A method for a payment service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, comprising:
 receiving, by the service provider, of a request for the service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of the payor; 
 transmitting payment information associated with the received payment request from the service provider to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, the payment information including information identifying at least a payment amount and an account number associated with the payor credit card; 
 receiving, by the service provider and via other than a credit card network, of funds from the credit card issuer responsive to the transmitted payment information; 
 directing, by the service provider, of delivery of funds in the identified payment amount and associated remittance advice to the payee to complete the payment on behalf of the payor; 
 transmitting, by the service provider, of a credit authorization request to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network; and 
 receiving a credit authorization approval from the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network responsive to the transmitted credit authorization request; 
 wherein the credit authorization request is one of i) included with the transmitted payment information, and ii) transmitted prior to the transmission of the payment information; 
 wherein the credit authorization approval is one of i) received prior to the receipt of the funds from the credit card issuer, and ii) received in association with the receipt of the funds from the credit card issuer; and 
 wherein if the credit authorization request is transmitted prior to the transmission of the payment information, the payment information is transmitted responsive to receipt of the credit authorization approval. 
 
   
   
     13. A system for directing a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive a request for a payment service provider to direct a payment to a first payee on behalf of a payor, to transmit payment information associated with the received payment request to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, and to receive information associated with the credit card issuer transferring funds to the service provider via other than a credit card network responsive to the transmission of the payment information; and 
 a processor configured to cause the communications interface to transmit the payment information responsive to the receipt of the payment request, the transmitted payment information including information identifying at least a payment amount and an account number associated with the payor credit card, and to cause funds and associated remittance advice to be delivered to the first payee from the service provider to complete the payment on behalf of the payor; 
 wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive another request for the payment service provider to direct a payment to a second payee on behalf of the payor, and to transmit other payment information associated with the received other payment request via the credit card network to complete the payment to the second payee on behalf of the payor; 
 wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the second payee accepts the payor credit card as a form of payment, and to cause the communications interface to transmit the other payment information via the credit card network, and not to the credit card issuer via other than the credit card network. 
 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the transmitted payment information further includes information identifying the payee. 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause remittance advice associated with the payment to be delivered to the second payee. 
   
   
     16. The system  claim 13 , wherein the funds are delivered to the payee by one of a paper instrument and an electronic funds transfer. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the payee does not accept credit cards as a form of payment. 
   
   
     18. A system for directing a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive a first request for a payment service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor, to transmit payment information associated with the received first payment request to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, and to receive information associated with the credit card issuer transferring funds to the service provider via other than a credit card network responsive to the transmission of the payment information; and 
 a processor configured to cause the communications interface to transmit the payment information responsive to the receipt of the first payment request, the transmitted payment information including information identifying at least a payment amount and an account number associated with the payor credit card, and to cause funds and an associated remittance advice to be delivered to the payee from the service provider to complete the payment on behalf of the payor; 
 wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive a second request for the payment service provider to direct another payment to the payee on behalf of the payor; and 
 wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the received second payment request includes information identifying a payor deposit account and, based on this determination, to cause first funds to be debited from the payor deposit account and second funds and associated remittance advice to be delivered to the payee to complete the payment on behalf of the payor. 
 
   
   
     19. A system for directing a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive a request for a payment service provider to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor, to transmit payment information associated with the received payment request to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, and to receive information associated with the credit card issuer transferring funds to the service provider via other than a credit card network responsive to the transmission of the payment information; and 
 a processor configured to cause the communications interface to transmit the payment information responsive to the receipt of the payment request, the transmitted payment information including information identifying at least a payment amount and an account number associated with the payor credit card, and to cause funds and associated remittance advice to be delivered to the payee from the service provider to complete the payment on behalf of the payor; 
 wherein the communications interface is further configured to transmit a credit authorization request to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network, and to receive a credit authorization approval from the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network responsive to the transmitted credit authorization request; 
 wherein the processor is further configured to cause the communications interface to transmit the credit authorization request; 
 wherein the credit authorization request is one of i) included with the transmitted payment information, and ii) transmitted prior to the transmission of the payment information; 
 wherein the credit authorization approval is one of i) received prior to the receipt of the funds from the credit card issuer, and ii) received in association with the receipt of the funds from the credit card issuer; and 
 wherein if the credit authorization request is transmitted prior to the transmission of the payment information, the payment information is caused to be transmitted responsive to receipt of the credit authorization approval.